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Now I must tell you about our Semi Centennial Celebration - You know Abby Mr Rev Preserved Smith had been invited to come and deliver a sermon on the fiftieth Anniversary of his Ordination - Well it came off last Wednesday Oct 12th - A perfect success every one says. I wish you and your family and Charles and Ellen could have been here, a great many absent ones came homeat that time - one family had never been all together until that day - the The smith family, Mary Smiths you know, James Blake and wife were from Illinois, Samuel Blake from Dorchester, unclear and wife from New York , Goodells, Whites, and Ball from Brattleboro, Humphrey unclear and wife from Greenfield Ponerogo, parsons, and Daltons from Northfield unclear and Henry and Azariah Barber (baby and all) Rev Mr Moors & Wife Preserved Smith from Ohio. Rev Mr Murray, Rev Mr Harding, Rev MR Ballon, Rev Mr Higgins and a great many others from abroad, I cant stop to mention - only those you remember. We met and decorated the church beautifully, with evergreens, autumn leaves, everlasting moss and flowers. Two arches of evergreen at the head of the aisles, accross from our pew to Saml Balls and opposite wreaths of evergreenaround the pulpit and draping curtains at the back, looped up with boquets of flowers. The Anchor emblem of Hope hung on one side of the pulpit decorated with wreaths of evergreen, and the Cross emblem of Faith decorated with evergreen and ever lasting, on the other side. Above over the pulpit encircled with a full wreath of evergreen a hand of moss with the finger pointing upward to the motto above. "The Lord is my strength and sheild" in silver letters "Provide ye the Lord" - under that surrounded the figures made of moss - Above, the post was wreathed written down left hand side of page I made a little investment in books at Green field and am happy to tell you that I am myself possessor of Byron's complete works and Longfellow's also - including Hiawatha and The Courtship of Miles Standish I am also the possessor of a chess Chequer & back gammon and ??? the ??? I bought the board I made myself and it looks as if it was just purchased - unclear represents two volumes of Waverly when it is closed People give me a great deal of praise in my skill in carpentering -